P.K. Subban in the media spotlight again at Habs practice

After having a day off on Thursday, the Canadiens hit the ice Friday morning in Brossard for a practice as they prepare to face the Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., CBC, RDS, TSN Radio 690).

Forward Max Pacioretty was given a second straight day off the ice so he could visit his wife, Katia, and newborn son in Connecticut. Pacioretty, who went straight from Philadelphia to Connecticut after Wednesday’s loss to the Flyers, was slated to return to Montreal Friday afternoon. Lorenzo Pacioretty was born on Dec. 23, weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.

The spotlight after practice was on P.K. Subban, who was benched for 10 minutes in the third period of Wednesday’s 3-1 loss in Philadelphia after taking an unnecessary roughing penalty.

“That’s the coach decision,” Subban told reporters in Brossard about the benching. “Listen, we’re running a team here and that’s what the verdict was. I just took it and when it was time to play I just went out there and did my thing.”

On his penalty, which came after he punched the Flyers’ Sean Couturier in the face during a scrum at the end of the second period, Subban said: “It’s a scrum. Sometimes emotions get the best of you. You’ve got to control that, especially at the end of the period. But we did a good job of killing it off at the start of the third. But like I said, right now we’ve got the best team in the world coming into our building on Saturday so that’s where my focus is.”

When told by a reporter that many fans think Therrien is sometimes too hard on him in particular, Subban responded: “Listen, he’s the coach and at the end of the day he’s got to make decisions in the best interests of the team. We’re running a team here. It’s not P.K.’s team. It’s not Carey Price’s team. It’s the Montreal Canadiens and everybody has to fall under the same rules. So that’s what it is. And if that happens to somebody else, then the same thing will happen.”

When asked if he has any hard feelings, Subban said: “Listen, I’ve said it before. My job is to play hockey. That’s what I get paid for. It’s not to express my emotions or even give my opinion. That doesn’t fall under, I think, what I get paid for and the same goes for everybody in this room. We get paid to play hockey. So my job is get ready for the game on Saturday.”

Coach Michel Therrien told reporters after practice that “I’ve got a great relationship with P.K.”

Storm, you may be right, yet if you go and exchange some of your money for USD next week, your Banker may disagree.
You might not be happy with that 91 cents US you received for the 1 Canadian dollar exchanged.
In a few months, that 91 cents just may be 87 cents.

With the nosedive the Loony has taken lately, I have to ask this. When does the dropping Canadian dollar start to hurt the NHL, considering the 7 teams garner 35% or so of NHL revenue? How much will it affect Quebec’s shot at a NHL team over the next few years?

Likely below .85 cents. I’m not an economist, but we didn’t seem to have significant creases form until the dollar slid below .85 cents in relation to the greenback.

Just one point of clarification. 6 Canadian teams generate that money. Ottawa hasn’t been making money for years. Melnyk indicated that he lost $10 two years ago. This is based on local media reporting in the city of Ottawa and was referenced by Melnyk during his bid for a casino.

As others have mentioned, I think it’s time for the cleanup.
Time to start shopping the deadweight that have value, but we don’t plan on resigning or simply don’t want.
For me, this means Diaz, Gionta, Bourque, DD, Moen. All of those players should be traded for prospects or picks, and we can fill the gap for half of those players in the summer, and have Eller and Pacioretty and Co. have a chance to carry the load for the rest of the way.
I wanna see Bergevin do something prior to the trade deadline with his eye on the future, because personally, I think we are not as good as our record. I wanna see a stanley cup for our Habs, and this roster isn’t gonna do it unfortunately.

I agree. I would also add Markov. He won’t be part of a contender in two to three years down the road. I love Marky, but I can’t imagine resigning him for another 3 years. Let’s move on now, as painful as it would be, with an eye on the future.

Oh no not Danny Kristo talk again. He was a prospect I liked a lot and I was disappointed by his trade. I see some are massively overstating his value, especially relative to Christian Thomas. Let’s remember Danny is now 23 and isn’t ahead of Benny Pouliot, Dominic Moore, J.T. Miller, Dan Carcillo, and Brian Boyle.

Maybe we should have Parros just stand in front of the net for our power play, aside from Gallager nobody else really does it. If he scores tonight I will go crazy, hey if John Scott can do it why not Parros.

The big story people are not focusing on is the fact that PK has not signed yet. Forget the extracurricular BS. This negotiation is probably very rough; especially after the last holdout. PK’s agent has to hit a home run after the last time. MB is probably offering around 7.5 and not max term. With the increasing salary cap, PK’s agent is probably at 9 million for 8 years…and not budging. With arbitration coming and a probable RFA offer, I would not budge either.

This is probably causing a lot of tension. No way is PK taking a home-town discount. Management is probably not crazy about having to pay PK so much money. The contract will probably cause some tension in the room with guys like Max making half for the next 5 years (no wonder he fired his agent). Management is basically screwed. They will lose in arbitration. They will have to match a RFA offer (which is guaranteed coming). The only other option to not giving him the money is trading him. I’m really surprised the “teams calling about PK” rumours have not started.

Crosby $104 Million for 12 years.
Yea, he could have held out for $120 Million but I always wondered what the feeling must be getting short changed for $16 Million knowing $104 million is coming in, and $55 Million already earned not considering off ice stuff.
How can he sleep at night?

– Tim Bozon did not have a successful start to the season on a rebuilding team. Traded to a contender and has really taken off with 10 goals and 10 assists in his last 14 games. Half of those without Reinhart, who was playing in the WJC.

– Brady Vail was having a good offensive season, for a player who is known as a defensive specialist. However, since his team traded it’s top offensive player Kerby Rychel, Vail has been tearing up the OHL with 10 goals and 12 assists in 13 games.

No, it is good. Just explaining to you why I hadn’t included Reway in my post. My original thought came with Bozon finally producing and especially with Reinhart away at the WJC. “It’s about time you stepped up to the plate” and voila…

From a skating and play making ability I agree completely. At least there will be no rough stuff to worry about. In that respect it will be the perfect game. I can’t see him getting more then 5 minutes of ice time tonight, provided it’s not a blow out.

I think MT coaches a very difficult game to play, and to play against. It tends to stifle individual creativity and daring a bit, but not as much as Martin’s style did. It rewards players who work hard on both sides of the puck, and requires great effort in supporting the puck carrier. It is hard work, and sometimes (like in Philly) when the rewards aren’t forthcoming the players stop playing it.

The Habs don’t yet have the developed talent to win without adhering pretty closely to a system (does any team?). MT’s main job now is to get every player playing hard for 60 minutes. If it happens, we will win more than we lose and make the playoffs. What happens then is a crapshoot for any team and I like our chances, because we have a good goalie.

LL and Patrick Holland can develop in the AHL. One of them can be our second line center next year (assuming we don’t re-sign Gio.

With all due respect, your comment illustrates very well what i answered to one of your posts yesterday. You were blaming MT for not thinking team first when he took an identical penalty as the one you would have prefered for him to get today. Damn if he does, damn if he doesn`t…

I am not defending his reaction on the blown out of proportion events cause i think that P.K. did not deserve a treatment that many others on the team deserve but i am just showing that Therrien gets a different medecine every time as long as he is ends up guilty…

And in addition, how can you stand on the “team first” mantra when you completely quit on the team and keep the goalie in for the last minute of a game that you’re only trailing by two. Yes the Habs had been crap and yes they probably simply would have given up a fourth goal, but you have to try. What MT did was similar to an NFL coach punting while trailing by 2 on a fourth and three at the other team’s 35 yard line with a few seconds left in the game. Was a first down or hail mary a long shot, would a 53 yard FG be a long shot, yes and yes, but punting is a complete capitulation. MT punted.

Hypothetically, I see your point, if Edmonton would trade Hall and their first and 2nd round picks this year and their first next season, I would be tempted to move PK. It would be contingent in knowing that both Beaulieu and Nygren were ready to step in and be impact players, and they are not!

Having Hall. Galchenyuk and Eller as the centres would be awesome, all GM’s say that you need Size and skill down the middle, great defence and above average goaltending. This would make it possible for Bergevin to trade DD and Pleks and get more picks and prospects or possibly a 2nd line, power left wing.

Really interesting read. Makes me wonder if the reason I’m uncomfortable with MT is not the results he’s getting or the decisions he’s making but rather a gut feel that he is the wrong guy for a young team like this and is out-of-step with what his GM is trying to accomplish. Maybe he was just the best guy available at the time?

I really dont understand a lot of the nonsense people are talking about.
Sit PK and MT is the worst coach in the NHL. MB is the worst GM.
MB took over and knew he was going to use the draft to build this team. He knew we had already a lot of excellent young players to build with.
He has not lost a single good prospect, and has acquired a few of his own.
I understand our need for IMMEDIATE Stanley Cup improvement, and our desire for a MONSTER trade that MB takes advantage of someone for us to believe he is doing a good job.
Well let me tell you a little secret.
MB IS DOING A GOOD JOB.
In our system we have 3 potentially elite players in Beaulieu, Collberg and Fucale. We have 6-8 potentially top 2 line players in Tinordi, McCarron, Andrighetto, Hudon, Bozon, Lehkonen, De La Rose and Bournival.
We currently have some young, excellent and well rounded players currently playing in Eller, Galchenyuk, PK, Price, Gallagher, and MaxPac.
I understand we seem to think our spare parts will get us some future superstar, but I am afraid it doesn’t work that way. Bourque, Gionta and DD do not add up to Patrick Kane.

Lets keep in mind that while we did get a top 5 pick in the last few years, we made the most of it, and since then we have built a solid future and still competed as best we could every season.
Its not a 6 team league anymore, and short of tanking for 5-6 years and getting really lucky what could be realistically do? (although that’s a loaded question as we are excellent at looking back and saying told you so)
We have a lot of young talent, more than most teams.
We have a lot of current talent. If you disagree with that, then why are there 9 current players going to the Olympics next month on our team?
Currently sitting 4th in the East, considering we are ranked 10th in scoring……. I feel its pretty ridiculous to say our coach is not doing a good job.
Every single season we complain we are a bubble team that will compete for a playoff spot. And sitting where we are, its astonishing to me people say the guy who is directing this team is doing a terrible job.
Do I agree with every little thing he does?
Of course not. But let me tell you who is better prepared and much more qualified than I and 99.9% of people out there.
All I hear in here is how better Kirk Muller, Guy Boucher, etc, etc is for this team and how we were so dumb…
Where is Guy Boucher right now?
Kirk Muller was rumored to be getting fired two weeks ago.

Answer me this; if Kristo is such a great prospect, why has he not played a single game with the rangers this year? The rangers have had a ton of injuries, yet he didn’t play a single game. Further, he is two years older then Thomas. I’ve made the mistake in the past of overvaluing our prospects. Kristo is not the special player we thought he was. I’d say that deal was a wash. In fact, Thomas might end the better player in the long run.

Kristo is 5’10”. I’m not going to bother with this further. With all due respect you are misinformed. I have no issue calling Bergevin out for the bad moves, but trading Kristo for Thomas was a lateral move. If you honestly think he was out best forward prospect, then you need to do some research. Again, if he was so good, don’t you think he would have been called up this year given all the injuries in New York? I’ve got nothing against the kid, but let’s be real.

Interesting thoughts.
There is also agreement that MB is doing a good job (or not messing things up and trading futures) yet to really know will take another 5-7 years to see how it all plays out.

As for the Habs record, it is very good so far, yet dig a little deeper and you can decide how much of that is the Head Coach

1) Carey Price. He needs NO coaching except for Stephane Waite. He stands on his head more often than not, and camouflages a terrible system where 2 Dmen end up in the corner or behind the net at the same time more often than not.
Replace that with Edmonton’s Dubnyk-Bryzgalov, and tell me where this team would be?

2) PK Subban. He has taken part in 30% of all Habs goals scored and 48% of all Habs PP goals scored….and we all know the love exchanged with the head Coach.

3) Plekanec. Another one that needs no coaching as he is a great low maintenance pro that plays the game at a high level both ways.

4) Fairness and equal treatment for all players-Team First-No Excuses.

Never in the time I have watched the Habs since a youngster in the late 1960’s, has that concept been so abused.
There is absolutely ZERO equal treatment on this team considering priviledge or ice time.

Subban has been on the ice for 204:32 of Montreal’s 258:18 PP time and has averaged 25:12 per game. Is it unusual that playing in such a high % of the teams TOI results in being in on such a high % of the teams goals?

If we take the time to read every comment they all aim to try to understand why the team is not a Stanley cup winner immediately. We can discuss all we want and debate on this guy and this guy but i think that the only variable or unknown factor is everyone`s expectations.
Let`s go back before the season to do a reset.
Let`s also go back to this management`s arrival and reset at that point in time.

I fail to see how we can think that this team would be better than it is if one move or two would have been different.
We have a good team but were are not there yet. We will get to see it tonight . We need more time .

From my perspective it is still too soon to say whether MB has done a good job or not. I think it depends on whether you’re looking at it from a strategical or tactical viewpoint. He said he was going to build through the draft. I think that’s an outstanding idea and as far as I can tell, he has been trying to do exactly that. We won’t know for at least 2-3 years how that is going to turn out. It’s very rare that players get drafted and immediately have an impact at the NHL level. I didn’t like the Kristo for Thomas trade and still don’t, but at least he traded a prospect for a prospect, which seems consistent with his philosophy. I imagine his scouts saw something that suggested Thomas has more upside than Kristo.

What confuses things a bit is the more tactical stuff. It’s fine to build through the draft in the long term, but there is the question of icing a team that can compete in the short term. There MB’s record is a little more suspect. Pretty much every band aid he has applied has lacked the sticky needed to keep it in place until the saviours of the franchise mature into their roles as Montreal’s next generation of hockey legends. So far it is hard to point to too many moves that have actually made the team better in the short run. Prust and a new goalie coach might be his best claims to fame. Driewske, Murray, Parros, Briere, Bouillon have all done little. The long term contract to DD was also a mistake. Other than the DD contract though, most of these moves will not haunt the Habs for more than a year or two. He has been fortunate that the young core of the team with assistance from a couple of veterans (Markov, Pleks) have kept the team relevant, but most of those pieces were here when he arrived, so he really can’t take much credit for them.

The final thing on the MB report card is his choice of coach. Again it is hard to assess this one at this juncture. MT has gotten some results. I just wonder whether MT and MB are really on the same page WRT whether they share a vision of this team for the future. If so it isn’t evident from MT’s style, which seems to be largely concerned with self-preservation. MB needs a coach that is committed to the youth movement that is coming and to the player development required to fully capitalize on their potential. I’m not sure MT is that guy, and maybe he isn’t sure either. That could be a problem.

So, I think it is too soon to say MB is doing a good or bad job. We’ll know in five years.

Trading the teams superstar does not fix this team going forward.MB has a huge mess to clean up and he is now set in the front office with great hockey people at his side. And I’m not talking about MT everyone here knows where I stand with him. MB now will start to fix this team one step at a time you trade get rid of or toss away the dead wood to start with and keep drafting.

If the Blackhawks score two it’s over. If Carey stands on his head and stops 35-40 of 36-41 shots, the Habs have a chance. I wish it were different but that is our formula for success against really good teams.

I see where my earlier post generated the usual intelligent responses. Since my trade proposal seems to be so obviously wrong tell me what all the collective hockey experts suggest we do to improve this team. It seems that maintaining the status quo is the preferred option. That sures seems appealing!!

Hypothetically, I see your point, if Edmonton would trade Hall and their first and 2nd round picks this year and their first next season, I would be tempted to move PK. It would be contingent in knowing that both Beaulieu and Nygren were ready to step in and be impact players, and they are not!
Habfan17

So we are playing the best team in the league and we are going with Parros in the lineup. I like Parros but let’s face it he is our least skilled player and hasn’t played a game in over a month. I just don’t understand the logic here. Chucky is out so we have less skill in that regard as well. Wouldn’t it make sense to bring somebody up who has skill and speed considering who we are playing? This all seems strange to me, can someone explain?

…but what if Subban told management he only wants to sign 5-6 years ( 2 of his RFA status + 3-4 of his UFA status years) and not that big long 8 years?
Or what if Subban declines any Long Term Hab contract and decides to go to Arbitration?

Oh fine, then you have to consider trading, but this wasn’t the same premise used by the poster who posted the proposal, and I was just joking. At any rate, if I had to trade Subban I’d prefer trading for a package return than Weber.

Weber had the Offer Sheet from Philly that was matched.
PK has the right to go to Arbitration if he wants. The Habs could also take him to Arbitration. In one case a 1 year deal would be done, in the other a maximum 2 year deal would be done….then PK is an Unrestricted free Agent.

This team as presently configured is going nowhere. Sure it has some good players but if one is truly realistic we are maybe good enough to make the playoffs but we can not complete with the likes of Boston, Pitts, Chicago, St Louis, LA, Anaheim, San Jose, Van to name just a few.

I propose trading Subban, Leblanc, rights to S Colberg and one of DD or Bourque for Dustin Byfuglien and Evander Kane. We get size and change the physical character of this team.

Lately when a trades are suggested, I can’t help but think of Mcdonagh and how good he would look on our blue line. The damage from these trades have done is incredible, so I hope if one is made, MB wins it.Last night McDonagh in a big game was plus2 and played 26 minutes.

You and me both. I loved that line and hope it’s resurrected before season end. On or two more wingers and we would be able to spread the talent around. The core, which are all 26 or younger, is solid. We just need the complimentary pieces to get to that next level.

I was checking out Neal´s stats. even the year Crosby was injured. Unreal. He and St.Louis I wouldve put ahead of Carter and Kunitz.
Giroux as good as he is I understand because the team is so loaded at centre. But I don´t get how Duchene got ahead of him as the 5th centre.

Agreed, the habs flyers game was brutal. As much as it pains me to say this, the leafs and capitals game last night was terrific. Lots of hits, great fights, intensity from both teams, goals and great goaltending. Just calling a spade a spade.

I don’t think so. I keep checking though, as I hope I’m wrong. I think major decisions will be made at the end of the month. We play nine more games in January. By the end of the month we will know if we are a playoff contender, or looking towards next season. Ideally we are a playoff team, but able to unload some UFA’s netting a pick or prospect along the way.

Maybe MB lacks negotiating skills. Maybe we should send him down to Hamilton. Maybe he isn’t up to snuff. Why didn’t Geoff Molson hire a seasoned General Manager instead of an untried rookie? Who knows?

Aside from the isles and sabres, nobody is making deals big deals. Maybe the issue isn’t Bergevin after all. I can’t imagine anybody being able to effectively trade away our used parts. On the bright side Bergevin inherited some great young talent, which forms our core, but he also has to deal with the size issue and a number of players who have little or no value on the open market. As unpopular as it might be, the one UFA who could net a decent return would be Markov. It’s something I’d at least explore. I am aware of the trade restrictions regarding his contract, but it wouldn’t hurt to kick some tires.

If any of them can’t get fired up playing on a Saturday night at the Bell Centre against an Original 6 and reigning Stanley Cup champ, then they really don’t belong.
( Of course if the effort is there, the Dr. who wrote his thesis on ‘How I Will Make You a Better Person’ will take the credit…)

So what do we have with the Hawks?
1st in Goals Scored – 4th on the PP – yet very vulnerable on the PK ranking 28th in the NHL.

Considering 5X5 hockey, the Hawks are basically tied with Anaheim as 2nd best in the NHL, while the Habs have not been very good in 5X5 hockey now in 20th place.

Just because Hampus Lindholm is NHL ready doesn’t mean Tinordi and Beaulieu are, or should be in the NHL. I’m glad both are in the AHL developing with big minutes. Their time with Montreal is coming soon and they need to be ready.

The Habs are not the Hawks-Kings-Blues-Pens that are serious Cup contenders.
If they were, and possessed a great Top 6, then there would be total agreement in what you say.

Why waste more time in the AHL?

Tinordi will be 22 soon and has played 100 AHL games.
Tinordi played 14 games with the Habs and was + Plus 5.
Beaulieu played 11 games with the Habs and was +7.
Does that sound like trouble…along with bring size?

Will they make some mistakes?
Of course they will, yet how else do you learn the NHL game?
I’d rather have them around Markov-Subban-Emelin that down there….and I’d take them in a heartbeat over Bouillon-Diaz.

Remember though the Pens got Malkin and Sid and the Hawks got Toews and Kane, but both teams landed decent players through trade as well! Hossa, Neal, Kunitz and then they signed and drafted guys who would be good for the third and fourth lines. Edmonton has over drafted first line players with no D, or Goalie.

Edmonton may be two or three players away from being a solid team. Habs don’t dominate against them. Those two or three players would have to be like Plekanec, and not just another allotment of flashy 18 year olds.

Agree on that. I absolutely can’t stand that a team is allowed to sit at the bottom for years on end and get one high draft pick after another. And the Oil are about to do it again. If they draft another speedy winger, we’ll know – if we didn’t already – their GM is an idiot.

The rule for the order of draft selection sucks. It’s bad enough rewarding failure once, but to allow teams to keep failing and keep being rewarded is insane. There should be a rule whereby you can only have one first overall pick per decade, one top-five every five years, or maybe every three – or something like that. At any rate, some mechanism whereby a team that drafts first overall one year automatically goes to the middle of the pack the next, no matter where they finish in the standings.

Yes, the Hawks lucked out with Kane #1 Overall and Toews #3 Overall, but it’s much more than what you state or believe.

It’s not Chicago fault that St.Louis chose Eric John son at #1 and Pittsburgh chose Jordan Staal at #2 ahead of Toews.

The Chicago model is a great organization that can identify talent, then a great Player Personnel department that makes sure the players learn properly.
Then to have the smarts to make great trades and set up an atmosphere where UFAs want to land.

Hossa signed as a UFA
Sharp was stolen in a trade with Philly
Oduya was stolen in a trade from Winnipeg
Keith was chosen 54th overall in the draft
Seabrook was chosen 15th overall
Hjalmarsson was chosen 108th
Crawford was chosen 52nd
Byfuglien – a big part of the 1st Hawks Cup was chosen 245th
Bickell was 41st
Saad was 43rd
Shaw was 139th

Good points, but I don’t think that they necessarily lucked out.
If they have two top-3 picks, luck doesn’t come into it: finishing at the bottom of the league does.

It’s true, their drafting has been very good apart from the top picks, but having those picks certainly helps your team overall, and raises the performance of their teammates. Mike Komisarek is a good example of this!

The Habs also have 1 Top 3 pick, yet instead of giving him opportunity as does Patrick with MacKinnon, or Ruff with Nichuskin or Vigneault with Kreider – ALL now playing on the 1st line with the best…or Barkov-Monahan…the young Galchenyuk is being taught how to be a better person.
Of course the Habs coach knows more than Patrick Roy or Vigneault, Ruff….

I think they know what we have and what we’re lacking. I think they are trying to make a deal, but must be comfortable enough to stick with the current roster. This is just my opinion. I thought there would be a call up, but perhaps I’ve misjudged the need.

If you look at recent history, they have always called someone up so that they have at least one spare. Let’s face it, Parrros doesn’t appear to be doing all that well and they are not going to go with him for every game until White or Chucky returns. I’m surprised given the team we are facing tonight that they would even want Parros in the lineup.